PENNSYLVANIA 


AND  THE 


ENGLISH  GOVERNMENT, 


1 699 -1 704. 


BV 

HERMAN  V.  AMES, 

UNIVERSITY  OF  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Reprinted  from  the  Pennsylvania  Magazine  of  History  and  Biography, 

Aprily  igoo. 


PHILADELPHIA. 
1900. 


PENNSYLVANIA 


AND  THE 


ENGLISH  GOVERNMENT, 


1699-1704. 


BY 

HERMAN  V.  AMES, 

UNIVERSITY  OF  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Reprinted  from  the  Pennsylvania  Magazine  of  History  and  Biography, 

April,  igoo. 


PHILADELPHIA. 
1900. 


PENNSYLVANIA  AND  THE  ENGLISH  GOVERN- 
MENT, 1699-1704. 


[The  following  transcripts  of  manuscript  documents  in  the  British 
Eecord  Office,  London,  were  made  by  the  undersigned  during  the  past 
summer.  These  extracts  are  typical  of  the  valuable  unpublished  ma- 
terial relating  to  the  Colonial  History  of  Pennsylvania,  which  is  con- 
tained in  two  series  of  Colonial  Entry  Books,  entitled  ' '  Proprieties' '  and 
Plantations  General"  respectively.  A  half  a  century  ago  the  Histori- 
cal Society  of  Pennsylvania  published  in  its  series  of  Memoirs  (Vol.  IV., 
Part  II.,  pp.  225-385)  ''A  Catalogue  of  Papers  relating  to  Pennsylvania 
and  Delaware,  deposited  at  the  State  Paper  Office, ' '  covering  the  period 
1670-1718.  This  catalogue  is  not  complete,  and  the  references  cited 
have  been  to  a  considerable  extent  superseded,  owing  to  the  fact  that  a 
few  years  after  its  publication  all  the  papers  were  removed  to  the  new 
Eecord  Office,  where  they  have  been  rearranged  and  reclassified. 

An  excellent  description  of  the  number  and  classification  of  the  docu- 
mentary material  relative  to  America,  preserved  in  the  Eecord  Office,  is 
given  by  the  late  W.  Noel  Sainsbury,  formerly  Assistant  Keeper  of  the 
Public  Eecords,  in  an  article  entitled  ' '  The  British  Eecord  Office,  and 
Materials  in  it  for  Early  American  History,"  in  American  Antiquarian 
Society  Publications,  meeting  held  in  Boston,  April  26,  1893  ;  Worces- 
ter, 1893  ;  as  also  in  a  paper  by  Professor  Charles  M.  Andrews  on 
American  Colonial  History,  1690-1750,  in  the  Annual  Eeport  of  the 
American  Historical  Association,  1898,  pp.  55-57.  No  more  important 
contribution  could  be  made  to  the  Colonial  History  of  this  State  than 
the  publication  of  all  the  important  documents  calendared  in  the  above- 
mentioned  catalogue,  as  well  as  others  now  in  the  Eecord  Office  col- 
lections, relating  to  Pennsylvania.  By  so  doing  this  State  would  be 
following  the  example  of  several  of  the  other  original  States. 

The  following  documents  fall  into  two  groups,  the  first  comprising  a 
selection  of  Letters  of  Colonel  Eobert  Quary,  the  second  Letters  and  Ee- 
ports  of  the  Board  of  Trade.  The  author  of  these  letters.  Colonel  Eobert 
Quary,  after  having  been  Governor  of  South  Carolina  in  1684  and  1690, 
and,  at  one  period  intervening.  Secretary  of  the  Province,  was  appointed 
Judge  of  the  Admiralty  in  New  York  and  Pennsylvania,  where  he  is 
first  met  with  about  1697.  In  1704  he  was  promoted  to  the  office  of 
Surveyor-General  of  the  Customs  of  America  to  succeed  Edward  Ean- 

3 


4     Pennsylvania  and  the  English  Government^  1699-1704.. 


dolph.  In  addition  to  filling  these  offices,  he  was  a  member  of  the  Coun- 
cil of  at  least  four  of  the  Colonies  at  the  same  time.  (New  York  Col. 
Doc,  V.  471.)  From  the  character  of  his  voluminous  correspondence 
it  is  apparent  that  he  was  an  enemy  of  proprietary  governments  in  gen- 
eral, and  that  of  Pennsylvania  in  particular,  and  in  consequence  was 
very  zealous  in  presenting  accusations  against  both  Penn  and  the  people 
of  Pennsylvania.  His  own  character  was  not  above  suspicion,  as  he  had 
been  charged,  at  two  different  times,  with  complicity  with  pirates.  Penn 
describes  him  as  ' '  the  greatest  of  villains  and  God  will  I  believe,  con- 
found him  in  this  world  for  his  lies,  falsehood  and  supreme  knavery. ' ' 
(Penn-Logan  Corresp.,  II.  289.)  The  Board  of  Trade,  however,  seem 
to  have  relied  quite  fully  upon  his  reports  of  the  condition  of  the  differ- 
ent colonies,  as  they  frequently  cite  his  letters  in  their  reports  to  the_. 
Crown  or  to  Parliament.  His  death  occurred  about  the  year  1712. 
New  York  Col.  Doc,  V.  199,  note;  New  Jersey  Arch.,  II.  280,  note  ; 
Shepherd,  Proprietary  Government  in  Pennsylvania,  399,  502,  note, 
503,  ff. ;  Bolles,  Pennsylvania,  I.  177-179. 

In  the  catalogue  published  in  Memoirs  of  the  Historical  Society  of 
Pennsylvania  (Vol.  IV.  Part  II.)  forty  letters  and  memorials  (between 
1697-1709)  of  Colonel  Quary  are  calendared.  Six  of  these  have  been 
published,  in  whole  or  in  part,  as  follows  : 

1699,  June  1.    Cited  Mem.  IV.,  Part  II.  289;  published  N.  J. 
Arch.,  II.  277. 

1699,  June  6.    Ibid.,  289,  290  ;  N.  J.  Arch.,  II.  280. 

1703,  October  15.    Ibid.,  344  ;  N.  J.  Arch.,  III.  7. 

1704,  May  30.    Ibid.,  348;  N.  Y.  Col.  Doc,  IV.  1082;  N.  J. 
Arch.,  III.  52. 

1707,  June  28.    Ibid.,  363  ;  N.  Y.  Col.  Doc,  V.  17. 

1709,  December  2.    Ibid.,  372  ;  N.  Y.  Col.  Doc,  V.  114. 

Five  other  letters  of  his,  not  cited  in  the  above-mentioned  catalogue, 
are  in  print,  as  follows  : 

1702,  June  17.  To  the  Lords  of  Trade,  opposing  appointment  of 
Andrew  Hamilton  as  Governor  of  West  New  Jersey,  N.  J.  Arch., 
II.  479. 

1703,  June  16.    To  the  Lords  of  Trade.    An  Account  of  the  Condi- 
tion of  the  Colonies,  N.  Y.  Col.  Doc,  IV.  1045. 

1707  /  8,  January  10.  To  the  Lords  of  Trade.  An  Account  of  the 
Defences  of  the  Colonies,  N.  Y.  Col.  Doc,  V.  30;  N.  J.  Arch., 
m.  271. 

1709  / 10,  February  10.    To  the  Lords  of  Trade.    An  Account  of  the 
Maryland  Assembly,  N.  Y.  Col.  Doc,  V.  161. 

1710,  July  5.  Letter  to  Mr.  Pulteney.  An  Account  of  Governor 
Hunter's  Administration  in  New  Jersey  and  New  York,  N.  Y.  Col. 
Doc,  V.  165  ;  N.  J.  Arch.,  IV.  6. 


Pennsylvania  and  the  English  Government^  1699-1704..  5 

The  following  extracts  from  six  letters  of  Colonel  Quary  are  selected 
from  the  period  1700-1704,  and,  as  far  as  known,  have  not  been  before 
published.  All  but  the  first  are  apparently  cited  in  the  catalogue,  al- 
though in  the  case  of  the  third  under  a  different  date. 

The  second  group  of  extracts  are  taken  from  Reports  and  Letters  of 
the  Board  of  Trade  of  the  period  1699-1703,  and  relate  to  the  affairs  of 
Pennsylvania  in  particular,  or  to  the  Proprietary  Colonies  in  general.] 

I. 

Extracts  from  a  Letter  of  Colonel  Robert  Quary ^  June  19, 1700} 

"  The  next  thing  that  I  will  offer  to  your  Honour  consid- 
eration to  the  present  State  [of]  this  Province,  it  grows 
very  Populous,  and  the  people  are  generally  very  laborious 
&  industrious,  they  have  improved  tilledge  to  that  degree 
that  they  have  made  bread,  flower  and  Beer  a  drugg  in  all 
the  Markets  in  the  West  Indies,  so  that  finding  that  Trade 
over  done  they  resolve  to  go  on  with  the  planting  of  Tobacco 
in  the  three  upper  Countys  where  never  any  was  planted  as 
yett,  the  land  is  very  proper  for  it  and  will  produce  very 
bright  Tobacco,  the  number  of  people,  and  their  Industry 
will  produce  vast  quantitys,  they  find  the  necessity  of  going 
upon  this  Comodity  for  they  have  no  other  way  of  making 
returns  home  for  England,  the  want  of  which  makes  this 
place  at  present  very  miserable ;  I  am  sure  there  is  more 
than  six  times  the  value  of  Goods  imported  than  is  exported 
which  is  the  reason  that  the  money  is  carried  away,  I  can 
assure  your  Hon*^  that  it  will  be  as  much  for  the  Kings  In- 
terest to  secure  the  Trade  of  this  Bay  as  that  of  Maryland, 
and  in  a  little  time  they  will  vie  with  that  Government." 

Extracts  from  a  Letter  of  Colonel  Robert  Quary,  dated  Phila- 
delphia, November  H,  1700? 

"  I  do  humbl}^beg  your  Lordships  patience  to  lay  before 
you  the  effects  which  this  extraordinary  Inhibition  or  Com- 

1  Proprieties,  B.  228,  229  ;  Plantations  General,  B.  284  ;  cf.  Board 
of  Trade  Journal,  E.  83. 

2  Proprieties,  B.  421-27. 


6     Pennsylvania  and  the  English  Government,  1699-1704-. 

mission  hath  already  produced/  and  what  the  consequence 
of  it  will  he,  they  have  already  raised  all  the  reflections  and 
affronts  they  could  devise  on  the  Kings  Advocate  and  my 
self,  giving  out  that  we  were  sent  for  to  England  and  there 
to  be  find  to  our  ruin,  and  whatever  we  have  or  shall  do 
will  he  made  void  at  home ;  but  all  this  noise  made  no  im- 
pression on  me,  nor  did  I  take  any  notice  of  it,  till  I  found 
that  they  had  prevailed  on  Gov.  Penn,  so  far  as  to  make  him 
violate  that  Solemn  promise  which  he  was  pleased  to  give 
me  and  so  often  confirm  (ed),  viz :  That  he  would  not  in 
the  least  invade  the  Rights  and  Jurisdiction  of  the  Admi- 
ralty, but  that  I  should  exercise  all  the  powers  of  your  Lord- 
ships Commission  though  he  thought  there  were  some  things 
that  bore  hard  on  him,  however  he  would  content  himself 
with  a  representation  of  it  to  your  Lordships  and  Expect 
your  opinion  and  directions  in  the  Matter.  I  gave  your 
Lordships  an  Account  of  this  in  my  former,  but  now  his 
Friends  have  so  far  prevailed  on  him  that  with  out  any  re- 
gard to  this  promise  he  hath  lately  granted  Commissions  to 
all  the  SherifiTs  of  the  Counties  (a  copy  of  which  with  the 
Decree  I  have  here  inclosed  to  your  Lordships)  by  which 
you  will  see  that  in  effect  he  hath  broke  into  the  Jurisdiction 
of  the  Admiralty,  and  invaded  all  most  all  the  powers,  I 
have  discourst  him  about  it,  who  is  pleased  to  assert  it  as  his 
right  &  that  the  Admiralty  hath  no  jurisdiction  within  the 
body  of  the  County,  so  that  consequently,  if  I  must  not  Exe- 
cute the  powers  of  your  Lordships  Commission  within  the 
body  of  the  County,  then  I  must  go  out  of  the  Capes,  which 
is  out  of  this  Province,  and  that  of  West  Jersey  &  beyond 
my  Commission,  I  am  empowered  to  Act  v/ithin  these  Prov- 
inces but  have  no  power  to  act  without  them,  I  was  ex- 
tremely surprised  to  hear  this  Doctrine  from  Gov.  Penn 
after  so  many  promises  to  the  contrary,  and  after  I  had  done 
him  the  Justice  of  representing  all  things  home  to  your 
Lordships  as  much  to  his  advantage  as  I  could,  all  the  dis- 

^  A  decision  of  Sir  Charles  Hedges  in  the  High  Court  of  Admiralty- 
releasing  a  vessel  which  had  been  seized  in  Pennsylvania. 


Pennsylvania  and  the  English  Government^  1699-1704-*  7 

course  of  the  Country  is  that  the  Admiralty  Court  is  taken 
from  this  Province,  and  that  now  Gov.  Penn  hath  appointed 
officers  to  Execute  the  powers  of  that  Court,  for  my  own 
part  I  have  charity  enough  to  believe  that  Gov.  Penn  would 
never  have  taken  those  measures  were  he  not  under  a  neces- 
sity of  complying  with  his  Quaker  Friends  especially  at  this 
Juncture  when  they  are  setting  in  Assembly  &  he  expects 
considerable  supply  from  them,  I  know  the  temper  of  those 
men  so  very  well  that  I  am  sure  that  they  will  not  part  with 
their  money  unless  they  can  govern  as  they  please,  so  that 
Governor  Penn  is  reduced  to  this  great  streight,  if  he  com- 
plys  with  his  here ;  then  he  must  violate  all  his  promises 
which  he  hath  made  at  home,  for  supporting  the  Kings 
Authority  in  his  Government,  and  if  he  doth  not  comply 
with  them,  then  he  must  not  expect  any  money  from  them. 
I  doe  heartily  wish  that  silence  in  this  case  were  consistent 
with  my  duty  and  the  Trust  which  your  Lordships  have  re- 
posed in  me ;  I  am  sure  it  would  be  far  more  satisfactory 
than  to  complain.  I  have  a  great  regard  for  Mr.  Penn  and 
have  not  been  wanting  in  my  due  respect  to  him,  but  I  can 
not  with  out  betraying  your  Lordships,  omitt  the  Represen- 
tation of  those  Matters.  I  will  beg  leave  farther  to  mind 
your  Lordships,  that  there  ought  to  be  no  time  lost  in  re- 
establishing the  Ejng's  Authority,  and  your  Lordships  powers 
in  the  Government,  the  proper  method  for  effecting  it  is 
humbly  submitted  to  your  Lordships  wisdome,  and  the  effect 
these  measures  will  have  in  the  neighboring  Colonys  to  the 
discouragement  of  the  Admiralty  (which  is  so  much  relied 
upon  to  secure  the  King's  interests)  is  recommended  to  your 
Lordships  thoughts,  I  have  nothing  farther  to  offer  to  your 
Lordships  in  relation  to  the  Lihibition  but  to  desire  that  you 
vnW  be  pleased  to  order  that  the  King's  Advocate  and  Coun- 
cill  may  attend  this  Cause  to  defend  his  Majesty's  Literests 
&  stop  the  reversall  of  this  decree. 

"  I  do  not  question  but  that  your  Lordships  will  do  us 
justice  and  not  suffer  the  malicious  underhand  contrivances 


8     Pennsylvania  and  the  English  Government^  1699-170^.. 

of  our  Enemies  to  take  place.  I  have  no  favour  to  ask  of 
them,  being  fully  satisfied  in  my  own  conscience,  that  I  have 
in  all  Matters  that  ever  came  before  me  Judged  and  Decreed 
betwixt  the  King  and  his  Subjects  according  to  Law  and 
Justice,  I  am  sure  no  Man  in  America  ever  took  more  pains 
to  serve  his  Majesty  than  I  have  and  perhaps  with  as  good 
success,  especially  considering  what  a  sort  of  perverse  people 
I  have  had  to  struggle  with ;  I  should  not  have  found  the 
effects  of  their  Mallice  could  they  have  frightened  or  wheeded 
[wheedled]  me  from  my  Duty,  and  whenever  I  quitt  the 
Kings  service,  I  shall  have  their  favour  as  much  as  any  man, 
if  I  valued  it." 

Extracts  from  a  Letter  of  Colonel  Quary^  relating  to  Irregularities 
committed  in  the  Plantation  as  also  to  the  Trade  and  Defence 
thereof  March  31, 1702} 

"  I  now  come  to  Pennsylvania,  the  circumstances  of  which 
place  in  relation  to  its  illegal  Trade  would  require  a  longer 
memorial,  but  this  being  designed  only  as  General  Heads,  I 
shall  at  present  confine  my  Self  to  the  General  Charge  that 
an  illegal  Trade  is  carried  on  in  that  country  and  neighbor- 
hood rather  worse  than  ever  .  .  . 

"  Mr  Penn  hath  made  a  great  noise  about  his  Acts  to  pre- 
vent illegal  Trade,  but  they  have  not  been  two  pence  advan- 
tage to  the  Queen,  or  so  much  as  taken  notice  of  since  they 
were  made,  nor  have  they  answered  any  one  end,  but  that 
of  his  own,  which  was  to  make  fair  weather  at  home,  and 
impose  on  the  world,  which  point  he  hath  gained. 

"  I  must  now  beg  leave  to  lay  before  your  Lordships  the 
State  and  condition  of  these  her  Majesty's  provinces  as  to 
their  State  of  Defence.  Should  any  Licursion  or  Invasion 
be  made  by  the  Lidians,  and  here  I  shall  consider  that  the 
great  number  of  her  Majesty's  subjects  on  the  main  are 
divided  into  a  great  many  provinces,  and  in  every  one  they 
are  scattered  and  dispersed  very  wide  asunder,  So  that  it  is 
1  Plantations  General,  C.  86,  90,  91,  98-106. 


Pennsylvania  and  the  English  Government,  1699-170^,  9 

impossible  for  any  province  to  fortify  the  Frontiers  against  the 
Indians,  nor  can  they  maintain  a  constant  Force  in  Arms  to 
secure  them.  "What  then  can  hinder  the  Indians  from  falhng 
into  any  of  the  plantations,  and  half  mine  them  before  they 
can  be  in  a  condition  to  defend  themselves.  I  do  very  well 
know  that  Virginia  and  Maryland  are  under  the  best  circum- 
stances, both  in  respect  to  the  great  number  of  men,  and  the 
advantage  of  having  such  experienced  and  vigilant  Generals 
to  command  them  on  such  Occasions,  yet  considering  how 
they  are  dispersed  and  how  badly  most  of  them  are  armed ; 
Some  have  Guns,  some  none,  but  little  amunition,  and  the 
most  of  them  not  fit  for  service,  or  action  should  there  be 
Occasion ;  All  which  considered,  it  is  much  to  be  feared,  that 
should  an  Enemy  fall  into  these  Countries,  it  would  be  of 
fatal  Consequence,  many  of  the  out  Settlements  must  be  cut 
off  before  the  rest  can  be  drawn  into  a  Body  to  resist  and 
repell  the  Force.  Tho'  I  am  sure  at  the  same  time  nothing 
would  be  wanting  in  the  Governour  that  is  in  the  power  of 
man  to  do. 

"  Proprieties : — i^ow  if  we  consider  all  the  proprietary 
Governments,  we  shall  find  them  in  no  wise  capable  to  de- 
fend themselves. — Carolina  nothing  but  anarchy  and  confu- 
sion. Some  places  perhaps  have  the  name  of  a  Militia,  and 
that  is  all  for  they  want  arms  and  amunition  and  all  things 
else  for  their  defence,  nor  have  they  any  act  to  enforce  it, 
They  will  it  may  be  once  or  twice  in  a  year  under  the  pre- 
tence of  Exercise,  when  their  buisness  is  wholly  to  be  drunk. 
In  some  provinces  there  is  neither  Militia,  arms  nor  amuni- 
tion, no  not  so  much  as  a  Military  Commission,  but  the 
Queen's  subjects  are  exposed  to  all  the  Miseries  Imaginable 
both  by  Land  and  Sea,  which  is  the  Case  of  Pennsylvania. 
And  yet  Mr.  Penn  Endeavours  all  he  can  to  innate  all  foreign 
Indians  known  to  be  Villains,  and  some  French  lately  come 
from  Canada,  to  come  and  settle  in  his  Countey  only  for  the 
benefit  of  a  Trade  with  them,  which  he  takes  care  wholy  to 
ingross  to  himself  by  ordering  the  Indians  not  to  permit  any 
to  trade  with  them,  but  such  as  can  show  an  Indented 


10    Pennsylvania  and  the  English  Government,  1699-1704.- 

Lycence  and  his  Seal,  What  Mr.  Penn's  profit  from  this 
trade  may  he  I  know  not,  hut  am  much  afraid  it  mil  prove 
to  be  the  loss  of  many  thousands  Subjects  Lifes,  if  not 
speedely  prevented  by  her  Majesty's  Care.  I  will  now  with 
all  due  submission  to  your  Lordships  better  Judgment  pro- 
ceed to  show  the  Cure  and  remedy  of  all  these  E\dls  and 
mischeifs. 

"  I  do  propose,  as  a  most  essential  thing,  that  her  Majesty 
do  take  all  these  proprietary  governments  into  her  own 
hands,  That  she  mil  be  pleased  to  appoint  prudent  Gover- 
nours  and  particularly  in  the  province  of  Carolina.  .  .  .  That 
a  law  may  be  made  to  regulate  the  Indian  Trade  which  will 
improve  that  Trade  to  a  vast  advantage,  and  may  be  a  Fund 
to  defray  all  the  charge  of  the  Government.  ...  I  propose 
likewise  that  a  Good  Militia  be  settled  in  every  province,  so 
well  fitted  &  armed,  that  they  may  be  able  and  always  in 
readiness  to  defend  themselves  and  their  neighbors.  .  .  . 

"  As  for  the  other  Governments  to  the  i^'orthward  of  Caro- 
lina, I  can  not  for  my  part  see  any  thing  that  can  prevent 
great  Destruction  amongst  them  in  Case  of  an  Invasion  by 
the  Indians  but  a  Considerable  Garrison  on  the  Frontiers  of 
Albany,  well  supported  and  supplied.  ]N"othing  else  can 
steady  the  five  i^ations  to  the  English  Interest.  For  when 
they  find  those  Frontiers  are  so  supported  as  that  they  may 
depend  for  security  and  Defence  from  thence,  they  will  then 
continue  firm  and  steadfast  which  is  of  no  small  consequence, 
and  if  this  was  duly  considered  it  ought  (I  think)  to  make 
the  several  Governments  Sensible  of  their  Danger,  and  exert 
their  utmost  endeavours  to  provide  for  their  Common  Se- 
curity, For  whenever  we  loose  those  five  IN'ations,  it  will  not 
only  be  the  loss  of  so  many  Friends,  but  the  adding  so  many 
powerful  nations  to  our  Enemies;  There  will  be  nothing 
then  to  hinder  them  fi:'om  ranging  over  the  Maine,  and  bring- 
ing ruine  and  destruction,  on  which  Government  they  please. 

"Virginia  and  Maryland  have  often  felt  fatal  and  evil 
efiects  from  these  very  Indians,  even  when  they  were 
Friends,  and  therefore  ought  to  dread  their  Revolt. 


Pennsylvania  and  the  English  Government,  1699—1704--  11 

"  But  so  far  are  they  from  such  necessary  and  reasonable 
consideration  that  the  Present  Assembly  of  Virginia  are  of 
Opinion  that  the  support  of  Albany  doth  no  way  concern 
them,  which  I  must  confess  I  could  never  have  believed, 
Had  I  not  been  an  Eye  &  an  Ear  Witness  of  it,  and  had 
I  not  seen  those  many  powerful,  significant  and  weighty 
reasons,  which  his  Excellency  the  Gov'"  of  Virginia  made  use 
of  in  his  Several  Speeches  to  show  them  their  true  Interest 
and  Danger,  and  which  he  pressed  with  a  generous  and 
candid  Temper  and  all  the  endearing  calmness  imaginable ; 
but  all  to  no  purpose.  They  w^ere  resolved  neither  to  give 
any  money  nor  send  any  Quota.  Neither  Reason,  their  own 
Safety,  nor  his  late  Majesty's  Commands  could  prevaile. 
They  were  so  possessed  with  these  following  mistaken 
notions 

"  That  the  Government  of  ISTew  York  had  misinformed 
his  majesty. 

"  That  the  support  of  Albany  was  only  to  maintain  an 
Indian  Trade  for  that  Government. 

"  That  considering  the  Distance.  It  did  no  way  effect 
them ;  whether  the  Frontiers  of  Albany  were  maintained  or 
slighted. 

"  That  in  Case  of  War  they  had  enough  to  do  to  defend 
their  own  province,  and  that  therefore  their  Country  could 
not  spare  either  Men  or  Money ;  not  considering  that  at  the 
same  time  they  put  the  Country  to  three  times  the  Charge 
(in  the  time  they  spent  in  debating  these  matters)  more  than 
would  have  paid  what  the  Elng  required  of  them,  and  I  find 
that  this  malignant  humour  is  not  confined  to  the  Govern- 
ment of  Virginia,  but  is  difiiused  more  or  less  through  all  the 
Settlements  on  the  Maine.  I  have  indeed  spent  some  time 
and  thoughts  to  find  out  the  true  Cause  of  this  Strange  Al- 
teration and  Change,  which  is  so  remarkable  in  the  humour 
and  Tempers  of  the  people  in  those  parts.  My  long  Ex- 
perience in  the  several  Governments  under  her  Majesty  on 
the  Maine  gives  me  ye  Advantage  of  kno^^^ng  that  no 
people  could  be  more  Loyal  to  their  prince,  more  Obedient 


12    Pennsi/lvania  and  the  English  Government,  1699-17 0^. 

to  Law,  more  respectfull  to  Governour  and  more  ready  to 
Answer  her  Majesty's  Commands. 

"  That  their  Humours  are  of  late  Soured,  and  their  Tem- 
pers in  some  respects  changed,  is  Obvious  to  every  Man. 
And  for  me  to  consider  that  it  is  (as  indeed  it  is)  the  Interest 
and  Security  of  all  the  Plantations  on  the  Main  to  contribute 
towards  the  Support  of  Albany  and  its  Frontiers,  and  that 
the  Charge  is  so  very  inconsiderable.  I  say  when  I  seriously 
consider  all  This,  to  see  the  Security  and  Unconcernedness 
of  most  Provinces  on  the  Maine,  and  to  see  them  so  averse 
generally  to  the  raising  their  respective  Quota's,  not  only 
the  proprietor  Governments  but  those  of  the  King  Govts,  it 
doth  amaze  and  astonish  me.  I  have  sometimes  believed 
that  it  might  proceed  from  those  late  Licentious  Common- 
wealth principles,  too  much  improved  in  England  and  which 
hath  been  the  Subject  Matter  of  so  many  Scurrilous  and 
Scandalous  Pamphlets,  enough  to  corrupt  the  Morals  and 
Principles  of  good  Men,  if  not  well  guarded  against  the  per- 
nicious &  subtle  poison.  But  upon  more  Mature  Considera^ 
tion  I  have  good  reason  to  conclude  that  the  Cause  and  Foun- 
dation of  this  Malignant  humour  is  to  be  found  near  home ;  I 
mean  from  the  Several  ^Neighbouring  Charter  Governments. 
And  this  may  be  easily  demonstrated,  if  we  consider  that  the 
people  under  the  proprietors  do  very  Seldom  or  never  pay 
any  Taxes  for  the  Support  of  the  Church  or  State.  They 
entertain  and  encourage  pirates.  They  carry  on  all  Manner 
of  Illegal  Trade,  violate  all  the  Acts  made  to  prevent  those 
Evils.  They  aflront  the  King,  his  Laws,  Authority  and 
Officers,  and  by  all  those  Disloyall  and  unjust  Actions  they 
grow  Eich  and  get  Estates,  and  have  hitherto  escaped  the 
punishment  and  just-reward  of  their  Wickedness.  This 
makes  the  people  of  the  Queen's  Government  murmur  and 
repine  and  puts  them  on  thinking,  what  should  be  the  reason 
that  their  next  E'eighbours  and  Fellow  Subjects  should  enjoy 
more  Ease,  Liberty  and  Freedome,  under  the  proprietor's 
Government  than  they  do  or  can  under  her  Majesty. 

"And  that  which  aggravates  their  Discontents,  these 


Pemisylcaina  and  the  Evglish  Government,  1699-170/f.  13 

people  of  the  proprietory  Governments  make  it  their  Buis- 
ness  to  upbraid  and  reflect  on  them,  as  being  Slaves  and 
Miserable  in  Comparison  of  themselves.  This  I  know  to  be 
a  Constant  Practice  and  produces  ill  Effects,  I  heartily  wish 
proper  and  effectual  Remedies  may  be  applied  before  these 
discontented  humours  were  improved  to  a  greater  height; 
and  none  other  or  better  Expedient  can  be  found  than  her 
Majesty's  taking  all  the  Governments  into  her  own  hands. 
Governing  all,  as  near  as  possible  may  be,  by  One  and  the 
Same  Law.  This  would  make  all  Easy,  Satisfied  and  Con- 
tented; And  untill  this  can  be  effected  and  Compleated,  I 
can  propose  a  plain.  Easy  and  Expeditious  way  for  her 
Majesty  to  oblige  all  the  provinces  on  the  Maine,  to  pay 
their  Several  Quota's  with  out  Murmur;  But  to  do  that, 
shall  wait  your  Lordships  Especial  Commands.  .  .  . 

"  And  since  it  is  not  possible  for  the  Government  of  I^ew 
York  to  support  the  Charge  of  all  this  alone,  and  as  unrea- 
sonable that  her  Majesty  should  send  money  out  of  England 
for  this  purpose,  There  can  be  no  better  meanes  or  Expedient 
found  out,  that  what  his  late  Majesty  hath  already  in  his 
Wisdome  proposed,  that  is  by  an  equal  proportion  or  Quota 
of  the  Several  Governments  in  proportion  to  their  Circum- 
stances ;  than  which  nothing  can  be  more  just  or  reasonable. 
Especially  since  the  Interest,  Safety  and  Security  of  all  the 
provinces  depends  so  much  upon  the  well  guarding  and  de- 
fending those  Frontiers.  The  Charge  is  very  Easy  and 
inconsiderable  not  to  be  felt  by  any  of  the  people  of  the 
Government;  I  will  give  your  Lordships  a  late  Listance. 
The  Assembly  of  Pennsylvania  gave  Mr.  Penn  at  one  Sitting 
two  thousand  pounds  Clear  of  all  Charges,  Besides  they  have 
settled  upon  him  in  Taxes  to  the  Value  of  one  Thousand 
pounds  per  Annum  and  upwards;  And  this  was  look'd 
upon  as  a  very  mean  inconsiderable  Present.  He  expected 
at  least  ten  thousand  pounds  and  perhaps  in  a  little  time  will 
gain  his  point. 

"  Then  please  to  consider  how  very  inconsiderable  their 
Quota  is  in  Comparison  of  this,  And  as  I  am  informed  he 


14    Pennsylvania  and  the  English  Government,  1699-1704-. 

has  set  on  foot  a  Subscription  for  several  thousands  of  pounds 
amongst  the  Quakers  on  his  going  home  to  prevent  the  Bill 
for  Re-uniting  the  Charter  Governments  to  the  CroAvn,  And 
sets  forth  that  the  Consequences  of  her  Majesty's  taking  that 
Country  into  her  hands  will  if  not  depopulate  it,  at  least 
stint  its  Growth.  So  formidable  is  the  Queen's  Government 
rendred  to  these  poor  deludged  people,  and  rendering  her 
Majesty's  other  Subjects  of  Equal  numbers  inconsiderable, 
in  the  most  depraviating  Terms  his  Pen  could  invent,  as  I 
have  it  from  some  of  themselves,  that  the  Churche's  Name 
is  only  taken  in  vain  here. 

"But  before  I  conclude  I  must  beg  Leave  to  tell  your 
Lordships  that  I  have  been  so  happy  as  to  see  two  Memo- 
rials relating  to  the  proprietary  Governments  given  by  your 
Lordships  to  the  Right  Honourable  the  House  of  Lords. — 
IsTothing  could  bring  greater  Satisfaction  to  me  than  to  find 
your  Lordships  so  Zealous  and  Active  for  the  Queen's  Ser- 
vice in  that  particular,  as  to  inform  yourselves  so  fully  of  the 
illegal  proceedings  and  abuses  of  these  proprietary  Govern- 
ments, and  which  indeed,  may  it  please  your  Lordships,  hath 
much  encouraged  me  to  lay  this  also  before  your  Lordships 
and  to  assert  that  what  was  before  by  your  Lordships  laid 
before  the  Right  Hon^^^ :  the  House  of  Lords,  is  plain  Matter 
of  Fact,  and  the  Greatest  part  of  all  which  is  with  in  the 
compass  of  my  knowledge,  besides  abundance  more  of  as 
great  moment  and  consequence.  I  dare  not  in  the  least 
doubt  but  that  your  Lordships  will  make  the  proper  use  of 
this  Memorial  in  and  to  her  Majesty's  service,  which  is  the 
only  End  I  aim  at." 


Extracts  from  Letter  from  Colonel  Quary  to  Board,  dated  in 
Pennsylvania,  December  7,  1702} 

"Liclosed  is  a  Copy  of  what  I  writt  to  your  Lordships 
from  Plymouth  the  very  day  that  I  sayled  thence  where  you 
will  find  Some  remarks  on  some  of  Mr.  Penn's.  late  grand 

1  Plantations  General,  C.  194,  200,  201,  208,  209. 


Pennsylvania  and  the  English  Government,  1699-1704,.  15 

Charters  which  he  passed  a  few  days  before  he  left  this 
Country ;  As  also  on  several  other  papers  which  I  then  did 
Inclose  to  your  Lordships  I  did  then  promise  your  honours 
the  attested  Copy  of  the  Several  Charters.  I  was  then  afraid 
that  I  should  meet  with  difficulty  in  procuring  the  said 
Coppys  with  out  some  order  from  your  Lordships,  which 
proves  a  certain  truth.  I  have  tryed  all  ways  to  purchase  the 
said  copys  at  any  rate,  but  can  not  prevail,  they  Govern  the 
Country  by  these  Charters,  and  yet  are  afraid  or  ashamed  to 
have  them  seen.  Mr.  Penn  as  it  seems  now  having  great 
assurance  of  Continuing  his  Government,  then  he  had  when 
he  granted  these  extravagant  Charters  which  Destroys  the 
very  being  of  Government,  is  now  endeavouring  by  his 
Agents  to  recall  or  overthrow  his  late  Charters,  but  the  top- 
ping Quakers  of  this  Corporation  are  resolved  to  hold  their 
unbounded  power  as  fast  as  they  can ;  So  that  all  things  is 
in  a  very  great  Confusion  they  flatter  themselves  that  lett 
what  Government  will  Come  they  are  above  it  all,  having 
the  Choice  of  all  their  Magistrates  &  Officers  which  can  not 
be  removed  by  any  power  or  Assembly  what  ever.  They 
have  not  only  the  Government  of  the  City,  but  of  the  whole 
province,  to  that  Degree  that  the  Country  is  very  uneasy 
what  the  Consequence  will  be  time  will  shew. 

"  I  have  thought  it  had  been  Mr.  Penn's  duty  to  have  layd 
those  Charters  before  your  hon^^^  Board,  the  Members  of 
the  Lower  Countys  in  their  Address  to  your  Lordships  do 
sett  forth  that  they  cannot  get  Copys  of  them.  I  wait  your 
Lordships  directions  in  this  point. 

"  At  my  arrival  here  I  found  that  Mr.  Penn  had  filled  the 
heads  of  all  his  friends  ^^Ai\\  strange  notions  of  his  extra- 
ordinary great  Literest  at  Court,  &  that  her  Majesty  was 
pleased  to  blame  him  for  not  coming  oftner  to  visit  her  & 
had  given  him  assurances  of  Continuing  his  Government,  he 
hath  given  full  encouragment  to  his  Corporation  to  exercise 
the  powers  of  the  Amiralty;  so  that  her  Majesty's  Officers 
of  the  admiralty  are  but  as  so  many  Cyphers,  nor  doth  the 
Custome  house  office  signify  much  more.  .  .  . 


16    Pennsylvania  and  the  English  Government,  1699-170 1/,. 

"  I  must  not  omitt  to  acquaint  your  Lordships  there  hath 
been  a  great  deal  of  Art  &  Industry  used  to  impose  on  your 
Lordships  a  Second  Sham  MiHtia  to  Serve  a  turn,  great 
pains  was  taken  to  persuade  the  people  to  list  themselves, 
great  promises  made  abundance  of  Strong  Liquor  Spent  & 
fine  Speeches,  but  all  amounted  to  no  more  than  the  gather- 
ing together  about  30  or  40  men,  to  compleat  which  forces, 
they  draind  the  Goal  of  Some  borrowed — some  Servants 
and  others,  and  after  all  the  Scandalous  ragged  Regiment 
had  not  above  6  Swords  amongst  them,  no  Shoes  or  Stock- 
ings &  finding  themselves  exposed  and  ridiculed,  the  Lieu- 
tenant Governour  was  ashamed  of  his  Militia,  so  they  are 
dismist  and  never  appeared  Since,  tho  I  expect  to  find  an 
Account  of  them  in  the  Gazett  which  is  the  least  that  Mr. 
Penn  can  do,  to  let  the  world  know  how  formidable  a  Mili- 
tia he  hath,  to  Defend  her  Majesty's  good  Subjects  of  this 
Province.  I  will  not  trouble  your  Lordships  with  the 
Quakers  Severe  threats  against  me  &  all  others  Concerned  for 
her  Majesty's  Interests,  for  my  own  part  I  valine  it  not,  but 
the  hard  Usage  I  met  with  in  England  by  those  Vexatious 
Actions  brought  ag^^  me  by  Mr.  Penn's  Contrivance,  one  of 
w^^  Actions  is  still  depending  doth  very  much  Startle  the 
Queen's  Ofiicers  &  makes  them  very  unwilling  to  Act  which 
is  improved  by  the  Constant  Insults  &  threats  of  the  Quakers, 
who  endeavour  to  persuade  all  men  that  Mr.  Penn  is  the 
Chief  Steersman  at  the  helm  of  Government  in  England,  I 
will  deferr  what  doth  further  concern  the  Government  of 
this  Province  being  obliged  to  give  your  Lordships  Some 
account  of  iTew  York  where  I  have  lately  been. 

"  It  is  hopes  and  hearty  wishes  of  all  good  men  that  my 
Lord  Cornbury  will  quickly  be  the  happy  instrument  of 
healing  the  Breaches  &  restoring  tranquility  to  the  Poor 
Destracted  Inhabitants  of  the  Jerseys,  who  are  impatient  till 
my  Lords  Commission  comes,  that  so  they  may  be  freed 
from  the  tyranny  of  the  Quakers,  who  are  more  inhuman 
then  the  Task  Masters  of  Egypt,  nor  are  we  of  this  Province 


Pennsylvania  and  the  English  Government,  1699-1704-,  17 

with  out  some  hopes  in  due  time  by  your  Lordships  aide  we 
may  recover  the  Influence  of  her  Majesty's  Grace  favour 
and  protection. 

"Enclosed  an  address  of  the  3  lower  Counties  to  the 
Board,  praying  that  they  may  be  recommended  to  her 
Majesty's  immediate  Government."    [Bundle  E,  l^'o.  56.] 

Extracts  from  Letter  of  Colonel  Qiiary,  of  July  25,  1703} 

"  It  is  the  Generall  discourse  of  the  Quakers,  that  the 
Lords  of  Trade  &  Plantation  are  Mr.  Penn's  Enemies  but 
that  he  valines  them  not,  having  a  greater  Interest  then  all 
of  them,  and  shall  be  able  to  carry  on  all  of  his  designs  in 
spite  of  them  all ;  This  I  am  very  well  satisfied  comes  from 
Mr.  Penn  himself,  for  his  Secretary  Mr.  Logan  told  a  very 
worthy  Gentleman  in  this  Country,  Mr.  Jasper  Yeats  the 
very  same  words  in  effect.  .  .  .  But  Mr.  Penn  and  all  his 
friends  have  designed  me  for  ruine,  which  they  threaten 
hard." 

Extracts  from  Letter  of  Colonel  Quary,  dated  October  15, 1704? 

[A  letter  thanking  the  board  for  recommending  him  to 
the  office  of  surveyor-general,^  and  giving  an  account  of  the 
trouble  in  Pennsylvania.] 

"  There  is  at  present  a  very  great  Division  and  Confrision 
in  this  Government,  Quaker  against  Quaker,  the  generality 
of  the  Country  are  very  violent  in  opposing  those  that  are 
for  promoting  Mr.  Penn's  Interest,  the  quarrell  hath  been 
Carryed  on  so  far  already,  that  the  Military  and  Civill  Offi- 
cers have  been  at  Clubb-law.  The  Quakers  have  Indited 
the  Officers  of  the  Militia,  not  sparing  the  young  Gentleman, 
Mr.  Penn  him  self,  who  they  have  presented  in  their  Courts, 
this  hath  so  disobliged  the  Lieutenant  Govern,  that  he  then 

^  Proprieties,  D.  374. 
2  Proprieties,  E.  102. 

^  See  letter  of  October  15,  1703,  to  Board  of  Trade,  seeking  the  office 
of  surveyor-general,  New  Jersey  Archives,  III.  7. 


18    Pennsylvania  and  the  English  Government,  1699-17 0^. 

resolved  to  put  the  Queen's  Order  in  force,  and  by  his  Pro- 
clamation to  declare  the  proceedings  of  their  Court  against 
one  of  their  Militia  Officers  voyd,  this  hath  so  insensed  the 
Quakers  that  they  resolve  on  revenge  on  this  occasion,  the 
Lieutenant  Gov.  sent  to  me  for  the  Queen's  Order,  his  Letter 
with  my  Answer  is  inclosed,  all  things  are  at  present  in  great 
Confusion,  and  young  Mr.  Penn  so  very  uneasy  with  the 
Quakers,  that  he  hath  publiquely  renounced  them  all,  and 
hath  put  on  his  sword,  he  goes  home  for  England  in  the 
Jersey  Man  of  Warr  from  New  York,  and  resolves  to  per- 
suade his  Father  to  resign  up  the  Government  to  her 
Majesty,  and  indeed  Considering  how  confused  and  disharted 
this  Government  is  that  they  refuse  to  Comply  with  any 
thing  that  tends  to  Mr.  Penn's  Interest,  but  oppose  him  all 
they  can,  I  am  of  opinion  that  Mr.  Penn  will  now  be  willing 
to  part  the  Government  on  farr  easyer  Termes  than  formerly, 
he  hath  quite  lost  the  end  of  sending  his  Son  over  hither ; 
there  was  a  proposal  made  by  a  great  part  of  the  Country, 
to  raise  a  considerable  Sum  of  Money  for  Mr.  Penn,  pro- 
vided that  he  or  his  Son  came  to  settle  amongst  them  in  a 
certain  Limitted  time,  in  pursuance  of  which  Agreement, 
the  Young  Gentleman  came  over,  but  they  are  now  so  in- 
censed against  both  Father  and  Son,  that  they  will  not  ad- 
vance a  peny.  So  that  he  hath  lost  his  Labour,  and  returns 
empty,  nor  will  the  Quakers  give  Mr.  Penn's  Luiet-Gov.  any 
thing  to  support  him." 

II. 

Extracts  from  Letter  of  the  Board  of  Trade  to  the  Lord 
Justices,  August  ^,  1699} 

(After  citing  charges  against  Markham  being  guilty  of 
encouraging  and  aiding  pirates  they  say : — )  The  whole 
body  of  the  Government  of  Pennsylvania  do  set  themselves 
in  direct  opposition  to  the  Court  of  Admiralty  established 
there  by  his  majesty,  some  farther  instances  whereof  are  as 
follows : 

1  Proprieties,  B.  20. 


Pennsylvania  and  the  English  Government,  1699-1704..  19 

"  They  have  endeavoured  to  persuade  all  men  to  refuse 
obedience  to  that  Court;  They  have  set  up  a  sort  of  Ad- 
miralty Court  of  their  own,  or  at  least  exercised  a  sort  of 
Admiralty  power,  by  arresting  a  ship  and  making  proceed- 
ings against  her  at  their  sessions.  The  J ustices  of  the  Peace 
at  a  Session  did  all  they  could  to  present  the  officers  of  the 
Admiralty  as  Enemies  to  their  Government. 

David  Lloyd  (who  stiles  himself  Attorney  General  and 
takes  fees  accordingly  yet  refuses  to  put  any  thing  in  suit  for 
the  King)  insolently  ridiculed  the  Admiralty  Commission, 
and  his  Majesties  effigies  affixed  to  it,  in  open  Court;  and 
also  said  in  open  Council  that  whoever  incouraged  the  set- 
ting up  of  that  Court  were  enemies  to  the  Liberties  and 
Properties  of  the  People.^ 

"  By  these  and  many  other  such  like  means  the  officers  of 
the  Amiralty  have  been  so  discouraged,  that  Coll.  Quary, 
Judge  of  the  said  Court,  complains  in  his  last  letter  to  us, 
dated  the  18th  of  May  last,^  that  he  had  great  difficulty  to 
persuade  the  officers  to  remain  in  their  places,  and  therefore 
presses  mth  great  earnestness  for  some  remedy.  (Accord- 
ingly they  propose)  that  some  speedy  and  effectual  remedy 
be  put  thereinto.  (That  Markham  be  removed  that)  We 
are  humbly  of  Opinion  that  it  is  not  fit,  that  the  said  David 
Lloyd  should  be  continued  in  any  Publick  Imployment  what 
soever  in  the  said  Province  .  .  .  That  redress  of  these 
irregularities  be  recommended  to  Mr.  Penn." 

Extracts  from  the  Answer  of  the  Coramissioners  of  Trade  and 
Plantations. 

To  the  Order  of  the  House  of  Commons  of  the  2d  of 
April,  1701,  requiring  from  this  Board  "  an  account  of  what 
complaints  have  been  made  to  us  in  relation  to  the  Trade,  or 
Courts  of  Justice  in  the  several  Plantations  in  America^ 

1  Colonial  Eecord,  I.  541  ff,  565,  602,  603  ;  Mem.  Pennsylvania  His- 
torical Society,  Vol.  IV.,  Part  II.  283,  294. 

2  1699,  Mem.  Pennsylvania  Historical  Society,  Vol.  IV.,  Part  II. 
287,  288. 


20    Pennsylvania  and  the  English  Government^  1699-17 0^. 


whether  in  the  Proprietary  Governments  or  elsewhere,  and 
what  we  have  done  thereupon.  Presented  to  the  House  of 
Commons  April  24,  1701.^ 

"  Pennsylvania. 

"  The  complaints  against  Mr.  Markham,  Lieut-Go  v.  of 
Pennsylvania  for  Harbouring  and  protecting  Pirates,  and 
against  the  whole  Government  of  that  Colony,  for  their  op- 
position to  the  court  of  Admiralty,  erected  there  as  in  other 
places  pursuant  to  the  late  Act  of  Parliament  for  preventing 
frauds  and  regulating  abuses  in  the  Plantation  Trade,  have 
been  very  great.^ 

"  But  directions  having  been  given  by  their  Excellencies 
the  Lords  Justices  to  Mr  Penn  ^  upon  his  going  thither,  for 
the  reforming  of  those  Disorders.  We  received  afterwards 
an  account  from  Col.  Quary  (Judge  of  her  Majesty's  Ad- 
miralty Court  there)  as  well  as  from  Mr.  Penn  himself,  that 
he  had  made  several  advances  in  what  had  been  required 
from  him.''  ^Nevertheless  we  have  of  late  again  received 
complaints  from  Col.  Quary,  that  Mr  Penn,  by  granting 
commissions  to  all  the  Sheriffs  of  Counties  to  be  Water 
Bayliffs,  had  broke  into  the  Admiralty  Jurisdiction  and  in- 
vaded the  Powers  thereof;  and  by  denjdng  the  Admiralty 
any  right  of  jurisdiction  with  in  the  Body  of  the  Province, 
had  in  effect  taken  it  wholly  away.^  We  have  likewise  had 
fresh  information  from  Col.  Quary  of  private  Trade  between 
Pennsylvania  and  Curassaw  (a  Dutch  Plantation)  carryed  on 
chiefly  by  Scotchmen,  who  clandestinely  and  illegally  export 
Tobacco,  and  Import  such  great  quanties  of  Lron,  Linnen, 
Wine,  and  other  European  Commodities,  that  they  are  sold 
there  as  cheap  as  in  England.^    As  to  Pirates :  Several  per- 

^  Plantations  General,  B.  448,  450-452.    Board  of  Trade  Journals, 

E.  437,  445,  F.  1,  8.  Commons  Journal,  Vol.  XIII.  502-505.  (Ed. 
1803.) 

2  Proprieties,  B.  20,  66.  ^  i^id.,  B.  82,  83,  85. 

*  Ibid,  224,  289,  271.  ^  Ibid,  422. 

« Ibid,  427. 


Pennsylvania  and  the  English  Government,  1699-170 If..  21 

sons  ^  who  have  themselves  been  formerly  suspected  of  Pi- 
racy, are  settled  near  the  Capes  of  Delaware  River.  These 
persons  when  Kid  was  there  received  his  Boats,  and  supplied 
him.  They  went  on  Board  him  constantly,  and  took  on 
shore  quantities  of  East  India  Goods.  Mr  Penn  has  im- 
prisoned these  men,  and  seized  some  of  the  Goods,  which 
(as  he  informs  us)  shall  be  sent  over.  .  .  . 

As  to  the  Propriety  and  Charter  Governments  in  Gen- 
eral ;  no  Governour  whereof  has  qualified  himself  according 
to  the  late  Act  of  Parliament  (except  the  Gov.  of  the  Ba- 
hama Islands  for  whose  good  Behaviour  Security  has  been 
refused  to  be  given  by  the  Proprietors.)  Their  Independency 
making  it  absolutely  necessary,  that  some  speedy  and  efi:ec- 
tual  care  be  taken  to  render  them  more  subservient  and  use- 
ful to  this  Kingdom ;  We  humbly  referr  ourselves  to  our 
Eeport  Dated  the  27th  March  last,^  Wherein  we  humbly 
represented  to  the  Honourable  House,  That  the  Charters  of 
the  several  Proprietors,  and  Others  Intitling  them  to  abso- 
lute Government  be  reassumed  to  the  Crown,  and  these 
Colonies  put  into  the  same  State  and  Dependency  as  those 
of  her  Majesty's  other  Plantations,  without  prejudice  to  any 
man's  freehold  or  property;  which  we  conceive  can  not 
otherwise  be  well  efifected,  than  by  the  Legislative  Power 
of  this  Kingdom." 

Extracts  from  a  Letter  of  the  Board  of  Trade  to  the  Queen, 
April  17,  1702? 

In  regard  to  the  General  Defence  of  the  Plantations,  they 
write : — 


"  And  as  your  Majesty  may  please  to  observe  by  what  we 
have  before  represented  that  the  propriety  Governments  are 

1  Proprieties,  B.  271,  224,  289. 

Trade,  B.  173. 
3  Plantations  General,  C.  143,  144. 


22    Pennsylvania  and  the  English  Government,  1699-1704. 

in  a  State  wholy  defenceless,  and  that  the  Proprietors  have 
no  way  taken  care  of  what  has  been  demanded  of  them,  or 
may  be  thought  necessary  for  the  common  safety  of  your 
Majesty's  subjects  during  a  war.  The  G-ovs.  in  contempt  of 
an  express  Act  of  Parhament  being  hkewise  unquahfied  for 
those  commands.  We  do  humbly  ofier  that  for  the  present 
your  Royal  Letters  be  sent  to  the  Several  Proprietor  and 
Charter  Govts,  requiring  them  to  put  them  selves  into  a 
posture  of  defence  against  an  Enemy,  from  whence  never- 
theless "We  can  not  hope  for  a  due  compliance,  untill  those 
colonies  be  reunited  to  the  Crown  according  to  our  former 
opinions." 

Extracts  from  a  Letter  of  the  Board  of  Timde  to  the  Queen 
relative  to  Governors^  Salaries,  Ajpril  2,  1703} 


"As  to  Proprietary  and  Charter  Colonies,  We  can  not 
propose  any  thing  on  this  occasion.  The  Govs,  of  those 
Colonies  not  being  appointed  by  your  Majesty  and  depend- 
ing either  upon  the  Proprietors  or  the  people,  from  whom 
they  have  very  mean  and  uncertain  salaries.  Which  in- 
courages  them  to  connive  at  unlawfal  trade  and  other  irreg- 
ularities inconsistent  with  the  interests  of  this  Kingdome, 
which  great  mischief  can  only  be  remedyed,  as  we  humbly 
conceive,  by  reducing  those  Colonies  to  an  immediate  de- 
pendence on  the  Crown." 

^  Plantations  General,  C.  240. 


